Nothing Going In or Out

ahanson111891

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 8, 2014
Messages
4
Purraise
1
I adopted an orphan kitten about two days ago (found her in the turn lane of a busy road). She's about 4-6 weeks old (according to the pet store helper and vet), and I know she should start weaning and being potty trained at this point. However, I've tried feeding her KMR, soft food, KMR/soft food mix, hard food, tuna, baby food, and anything else I can think of for a baby kitten. She has NO curiosity for anything that I set out on dishes for her, even if the food is heated up. I've only been able to feed her 1/2 tsp KMR through an oral syringe every few hours (which I almost have to force into her), and I'm concerned it 's not enough. I know she's hungry because every other time I hold her, she kneeds and licks me in search of a nipple.

In addition, I've been stimulating her to go potty and while she does urinate, she has yet to defecate. I've sat for minutes at a time (after every feeding) rubbing her, but the only thing I'll get out of her are her teary mews. The vet I took her to has told me that she is completely healthy, and ready to make a bowel movement, but I'm having no luck at all. I've tried putting her in a litter box, but as irony would have it, the only thing she'll willingly eat is kitty litter so I've kept her out of the box completely.

I know it takes time for a kitten to get used to its new surroundings, and it hasn't been that long since I've brought her home, but I'm getting more and more concerned. I start work in a few days and I'm scared to death of leaving her alone in the house, especially if she can't take care of herself. I've never kept a cat (much less a baby kitten), and most of my information is from internet searches over the course of a few days. Any advice would be extremely helpful, but my specific questions for answering are as follows:

1) About how long does it take for a new kitten to become familiar with its surroundings?

2) What can I do to stimulate her curiosity for food? Should I stop feeding her and hope that instincts will take over so that she'll eat from the dishes I set out?

3) How long should it take to wean a kitten?

4) How long at one point should I physically sit down and stimulate her to go potty?

5) How can I stop her from eating kitty litter? If I can get her to stop then it'll be much easier to potty train her.

6) She spends most of the day sleeping, and I'm wondering if there is a need for concern with that.

7) I'm worried that she may be dehydrated and perhaps that's why she has trouble pooping. Anything I can do to treat that?

P.S. Sorry if I double post.
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,999
Purraise
10,648
Location
Sweden
7) I'm worried that she may be dehydrated and perhaps that's why she has trouble pooping. Anything I can do to treat that?

 
Yes, probably she is.  How is the urine, if dark she is dehydrated.   It makes her constipated, and also, takes force out of her.

You give her some water with a dropper or  syringe, in the corner of the mouth, tummy down, head up.

Some home made pedialyte is good, but common water is OK to begin with.   Or extra diluted KMR, of course.

Be sure she is warm enough.   But if it is a very hot day, it may be the reverse, try to cool down some.   :)

You can perk in some extra energy by smearing glucose sugar on her gum.  If you dont have glucose sugar, you can use honey or white caro syrup.

Its difficult to stop them from tasting litter. The only "remedy" is to use non clumping litter.

Try and give her the treats you want to try with, on your finger, so she licks off, and this way discover they are food.  You can even put in it in her mouth with your finger.

Gerber baby food, stage one or two, are often used in USA.  Use the chicken or turkey version, without any additives.   Minced meat is another common tip in Sweden.

Hope these advices helps.

Good luck!
 
Last edited:

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
I am headed out now to take my Krissy to the vet but will be back soon and offer some help/advice.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

ahanson111891

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 8, 2014
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Thank you, mickNsnicks2mom, for directing my thread in the right direction, and StefanZ for the great advice. I'm happy to report that little Sandwich (kitten's name) finally 'did her business.' With her bowels evacuated she's much more energetic and drinks a lot more KMR. I haven't tried giving her any other foods yet, but we will see...I'm glad to have gotten over this first hurdle as a brand new kitten owner.
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
Thanks as well for pointing this out to me.

Thanks @StefanZ  for the vibes for Krissy.

I will post about that in the lounge shortly.

It clearly sounds to me that, despite kittens age, she has no clue what's up with the dish.

Momma cats show their kids about eating/drinking from dishes at a young age when they are fed this way. If mom is not, as in ferals/homeless, etc then they are much later in learning to eat any way except through nursing.

So! That being said, this would explain why she wasn't getting the dish concept despite being hungry.

Constipation will occur easily in kittens because of their small volumes internally. Small size=small amt of fluids/small amt of blood, etc. which btw is how kittens can actually die because of a flea infestation. They have such a small amt of blood as it is, then a herd of freeloading fleas come along and hijack her for her blood, causing anemia and can actually kill a young kitten.

So it only takes a young kitten a very short time deprived of food/water and there it is, constipated.

It's alot easier a fix for her age then for say, 2 week olds/neonates.

Litterbox? Super common for little kids to eat litter at first. This is why it's critical you use only non clumping litter, or might be asking for trouble there.

She can however use litter, and the best news is, she is def. big enough to be a real pro at never missing the use of the box, that said, so long as it is RIGHT UNDER HER NOSE.

Kittens attention span is short. They also are still learning to control themselves, to get to the box.

When a kitten is allowed free range in the home, you can bet she will have little peepees and poops here and there, everywhere. The box should be following her around, or she should be contained for a couple weeks with the exception of pulling her out to kiss and hug her, maul her for a bit.

This is also best for new babes, so things are not so overwhelming. (house looks like an enormous playground.)

So, you will have to teach her to eat from a dish. Do this once she gets caught up with fluids/nutrition she needs.

Kittens so young metabolize very quickly, so they need to eat often. Like alot! 

If she is only on kmr now, she will need a decent amt every 2-3 hours to get her fill.

You can continue to offer pate canned. Fancy Feast classics kitten type is fine. Inexpensive when weaning kittens, so you're not throwing money down the toilet everytime you pop open a new can and it goes uneaten, again!

Just take a 1/4 can of ff kitten, add a bit of kmr and fork it together, thick but like oatmeal with milk.

Whenever she wants to be fed, and is hungry, stick her mouth gently of course into the dish so it gets wet on her mouth, she will lick it off and get the idea soon enough.

After several times of this, don't forget, only try it when she is hungry, as it aids in her eagerness to learn.

You do not need to potty her. She can do this herself at her age.

Good luck!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

ahanson111891

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 8, 2014
Messages
4
Purraise
1
@ mickNsnicks2mom Sandwich is growing big and strong. She now knows how to eat from dishes and use the litter box all by herself. She alternates between napping and attacking anything that moves. Enclosed is a picture of her snoozing in my shoe.

 

micknsnicks2mom

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 15, 2014
Messages
11,590
Purraise
5,295
Location
...with the cats...
i'm so glad to hear that sandwich is doing so well!

oh, my!!! sandwich sure is a cute lil girl!

so darling, sleeping in your shoe!
 
Last edited:
Top